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Proudly Serving Those Who Served
P. O.  Box 303
Hurricane, WV 25526, U.S.A.
304-757-9766
 
WAR MEMORIAL AX - from  WVAH-Fox 11 TV News, Tuesday, March 27, 2007 (news transcript)
 
    HE'S ACCUSED OF TAKING HIS CAR ON A WILD RIDE THRU THE CAPITOL COMPLEX ... AND CRASHING INTO THE WAR MEMORIAL. NOW, HE'S FACING THE CONSEQUENCES.

    JAKE GLANCE IS LIVE AT THE MEMORIAL WITH MORE ON THIS STORY. JAKE?

    AT FIRST 59 YEAR OLD HOWARD GENTRY WAS FACING ONLY 2 MISDEMEANOR CHARGES. BUT NOW ... FELONY DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY ... AND 1 TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON.

    HE'S QUIET NOW ... BUT WHAT HE'S ACCUSED OF SPEAKS LOUD ENOUGH.

    NATS - "Walk."

    59 YEAR OLD HOWARD GENTRY IS ACCUSED OF DRIVING HIS CAR UP THE CULTURAL CENTER STEPS EARLY SUNDAY MORNING ... AND THEN CRASHING HIS CAR INTO THE WAR MEMORIAL ... AND THEN DRIVING OFF. THE TIRE TRACKS CAN STILL BE SEEN.

    Gary Walton/Jr. Vice Commander, VFW Post 9097 - "First reaction is always depression, because it was put up to honor the people from West Virginia that served in the wars."

    POLICE SAY GENTRY WAS APPARENTLY ON HIS WAY BACK TO HIS HOME IN ROANE COUNTY ... WHEN HIS CAR BROKE DOWN ON I-77 BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE. IT WAS ALL CAUGHT ON SURVEILLANCE TAPE ... IT HASN'T BEEN RELEASED ... BUT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO POLICE.

    Sgt. Shawn Williams/Charleston Police - "I've never seen anything like it. // Normally, when someone hits something, they stop. But that didn't happen here."

    THE FELONY CHARGE OF DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY BRINGS BETWEEN 1 TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON AND A 25 THOUSAND DOLLAR FINE.

    NOT MUCH ... WHEN COMPARED TO THE 200 TO 300 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN ESTIMATED DAMAGE DONE TO THE MEMORIAL.

    Gary Walton/Jr. Vice Commander, VFW Post 9097 70313 - "he caused the damage, he should have to pay a part in fixing it. but our only interest is to see it repaired, and put back in shape."

    GENTRY'S WAS RELEASED ON BAIL TODAY. HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING IS SET FOR NEXT WEEK.

    AS FOR WHY IT HAPPENED ... NOT CLEAR YET, BUT POLICE SAY GENTRY WAS NOT DRUNK ... COULD HAVE BEEN A MEDICATION ISSUE.

    REPORTING LIVE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, JAKE GLANCE, EYEWITNESS NEWS.